The true disciple of Jesus has a daily choice

Every day, each one of us is confronted with choices that somehow affect our lives in a larger way. When we drive we choose whether or not to go the prescribed speed limit or choose to take our chances and go over the limit. We Choose – to listen or not to listen to the advice given to us by our parents or preachers, family or friends. Often when given the advice of others we weigh it and determine if it’s the course of action we want to take.

The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true: One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

In our reading, Paul calls us to decide. Paul opens up the text with a question in verse 15. “ Since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning?” He answers his own rhetorical question with a resolute “ Of course not!” Paul uses the relationship between a master/slave to explain the everyday choices we make?

When a slave was passed in ownership from one master to another – the old Masters authority came to an end.

Once says Paul – you were slaves to sin. Sin was your old master and you were forced to do all the evil desires your heart ordered you to do – you had no power to say No. Think on your own life today. What has God liberated you from that you were powerless to change in your best efforts: Anger? Rage? Fear? Control? Substances? Did you find yourself in a lifestyle that repeated itself in destructive mistakes and bad influences – on a path of self-destruction?

That lifestyle and those patterns should be completely broken – no longer embraced or lived now because you have come to Christ. You have been free from sins power. When slaves were transferred to the new owner – there is a new set of rules. So Paul goes on to say: But now you have passed from the service of sin into the service of God; your business now is to do what pleases God, not what sin dictates.

So the true disciple of Jesus has a daily choice: We can choose to serve the old master of our lives – Sin, and reap the wages Sin will eventually give us. Or we can choose to serve Jesus as our Master – and live a life of holiness and Christ-like character.

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